Canadian Championship

Last updated

Canadian Championship
Championnat canadien
Canadian Championship 2021 logo.png
Founded2008;16 years ago (2008)
RegionCanada (CONCACAF)
Number of teams14
Current champions Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3rd title)
Most successful club(s) Toronto FC (8 titles)
Television broadcasters OneSoccer
Website canadasoccer.com
Soccerball current event.svg 2024 Canadian Championship

The Canadian Championship (French : Championnat canadien) is an annual soccer tournament contested by Canadian professional teams. The winner is awarded the Voyageurs Cup and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. [1] It is contested by Major League Soccer sides Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and CF Montréal, eight Canadian Premier League sides, and the champions of League1 Ontario, League1 British Columbia, and Ligue1 Québec. The tournament is organized by the Canadian Soccer Association [2] and has been broadcast on OneSoccer since 2019. [3]

Contents

History

The Canadian Championship is a domestic cup competition organized by the Canadian Soccer Association. The championship determines one of Canada's entries in the annual CONCACAF Champions Cup. Until the creation of the Canadian Premier League in 2019, all fully professional Canadian soccer teams played in United States-based leagues. Prior to the creation of the official competition in 2008, there was no domestic competition to determine the best Canadian professional team (as Canada Soccer's Challenge Trophy only crowned the best amateur team). Though a notable attempt was conducted by the Canadian Soccer League through the Open Canada Cup, which ultimately managed to attract professional and amateur clubs from British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. [4] The tournament was dissolved in 2008 after the creation of the Canadian Championship.

An unofficial Canadian Champion determined in the same manner as 2008–2010, a home-and-away series with the games taken from USL First Division (USL-1) regular season league games, was awarded by the Canadian national teams' supporters group, The Voyageurs. This unofficial Canadian Championship became less legitimate when Toronto was awarded a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to start play in 2007 in the USSF Division 1 MLS league above the USSF Division 2 USL-1 league. Toronto's USL-1 team self relegated, while the other two Canadian professional soccer teams did not play meaningful games against the new MLS team in 2007. [5]

For the 2008–09 season, CONCACAF changed their eight team FIFA Club World Cup qualification tournament from a two-legged aggregate goals knockout elimination format, named the CONCACAF Champions Cup, to a format mirroring the UEFA Champions League with a play-in round, a group stage, and lastly a two-leg aggregate score knockout format for the final rounds. The format change for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League provided the opportunity to expand the number of qualifying teams from different countries, and Canada was awarded a single entry in the play-in round preceding the group stage. The year 2008 was the first time a Canadian entry had been awarded by CONCACAF since 1992, and the first time a Canadian team participated since 1976. [6] To award the new Canadian entry, the CSA created a new competition consisting of a home-and-away round-robin series between the three fully professional Canadian teams: Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. [7] The 2008 Canadian Championship was contested between May and July 2008 and won by the Montreal Impact. As the Canadian champions, Montreal qualified for the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League. [6] [8] [9]

The 2009 Canadian Championship's format and participants were the same, contested by the three clubs in May and June 2009. It was closely contended by Toronto and Vancouver and won by the former via goal differential in the tournament's final game against the defending champions, Montreal, giving the Toronto franchise its first ever trophy and a spot in the qualifying round of the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League. [10] Toronto repeated as champions in the 2010 competition, qualifying for the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto won it for the fourth consecutive season in the 2012 competition.

In 2011, with the start of a fourth fully professional Canadian soccer team, FC Edmonton, the competition was changed from the home-and-away round robin series to a double-leg aggregate score knockout cup format with the two MLS teams seeded first and second, and NASL teams seeded third and fourth based on league standings of the previous year and the USSF tiering of Division 1 and Division 2. [11] This format mitigated competitive concerns regarding already eliminated teams and the number of additional (extra to their regular league) games each team would be required to play during a season.

On June 6, 2016, Canadian Soccer Association general secretary Peter Montopoli told TSN that plans were well under way to expand the tournament to include an access point for any team in Canada. He said that he expected the expansion to take place for 2017. His statement seemed to confirm other reports saying similar. [12] [ better source needed ] On March 9, 2017, Canada Soccer Association announced that from the 2018 edition the winners of the League1 Ontario and Première ligue de soccer du Québec would compete. [13]

In January 2019, a new five-round format was announced to include the seven teams of the newly formed Canadian Premier League, bringing the total number of teams competing to 13. [14] In 2020, with the dissolution of Ottawa Fury FC, a modified four-round tournament was announced featuring 12 teams, the first contraction in the competition's history. [15] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition was instead held between two teams qualified through league play, with the top Canadian MLS team meeting the CPL winners. [16] [17]

Beginning in 2023, the league winner of League1 British Columbia joined the tournament as a competitor. They were also joined by new Canadian Premier League club, Vancouver FC. [18]

In the 2023 preliminary round, TSS Rovers of League1 British Columbia became the first semi-pro team to advance in the tournament against a professional team. They defeated Canadian Premier League side Valour FC 3–1 to reach the quarterfinal. [19]

Trophy

The champions are awarded the Voyageurs Cup Thevoyageurscup.jpg
The champions are awarded the Voyageurs Cup

The winners of the Canadian Championship are awarded the Voyageurs Cup. [20] From 1993 to 2007, there was no domestic competition open to top-tier Canadian professional clubs. From 2002 to 2006, the USL First Division was the highest level in which Canadian men's soccer teams competed. The Voyageurs, a supporters' group, developed a method of tracking league results between Canadian clubs to determine a professional Canadian champion.

With the introduction of the Canadian Championship as a separate competition, the Voyageurs donated the cup to the Canadian Soccer Association to award to the winners. The trophy is still awarded by a Voyageurs member to the current winning club. [21] [22] [23]

Format

From 2008 to 2010, the tournament consisted of the three professional teams in Canada in a home-and-away series with the top team winning entry into the qualifying stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. These teams competed in the two top US-based professional soccer leagues, which in 2010 was Major League Soccer and the temporary USSF Division 2 Professional League. In 2011, the North American Soccer League received sanctioning as the USSF's new second-division league.

When FC Edmonton joined the NASL in 2011, the tournament was expanded to include all four professional clubs in the country. The tournament consisted of two-legged semifinals and a two-legged final. In the first semifinal of 2011, Toronto, as reigning champions, was assigned the first-place seed and played Edmonton, which was assigned the fourth seed as newcomers to the tournament. The two remaining teams, Montreal and Vancouver, faced off in the other semifinal. This was to be followed by a one-game final to be hosted by the highest remaining seed; [24] but the Canadian Soccer Association decided to go with a two-legged final instead. The format was repeated in subsequent years with the previous year's league placement being used to seed the teams. [2]

Starting with the 2014 competition, due to the introduction of the Ottawa Fury FC to the NASL, the two Canadian NASL teams played in a play-off quarterfinal to determine which team made it to the semifinals, in which the MLS teams were introduced. [25]

Due to scheduling conflicts with the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, [26] the 2015 edition was held during April, May, and August [27] but did not provide a competitor for the 2015–16 CONCACAF Champions League; instead the best-placed Canadian Major League Soccer team in the 2014 regular season was the country's representative. [26] The Whitecaps qualified for the championship on October 19, 2014. [28] The winner of the 2015 Canadian Championship qualified for the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League instead and starting in 2016, the competition will be held in June and July. [26]

Since 2017, competition regulations state that each team must field a minimum of three Canadian starters for each match. [29]

In 2018, following the suspension of operations at FC Edmonton, the format of the Championship was amended once more to allow for the admission of two clubs from the Division 3 provincial leagues: League1 Ontario and Première ligue de soccer du Québec. [30] The two provincial champions meet in a first qualifying round, with the winner progressing to meet the sole Canadian USL team (not including Toronto FC II, which is a department of the MLS side Toronto FC), Ottawa Fury FC in a second qualifying round. The winner of this match joins the three Canadian MLS teams in the semifinals. A.S. Blainville and Oakville Blue Devils qualified to represent the Quebec and Ontario leagues respectively in 2018. [31] [32]

The 2019 Canadian Championship was the first to feature teams from the newly created Canadian Premier League. With 13 teams competing, the competition was expanded to include three qualifying rounds along with the semifinals and finals. The first qualifying round begins with six teams, with three new teams entering each round until the semifinals where the previous year's champion enters. All rounds are two-legged match ups. [14]

Since 2021, the tournament has had four rounds consisting of single leg ties. [33] First round matchups have been determined geographically (i.e. east and west) and byes have been awarded to the previous year's tournament finalists. In 2024 the format was altered slightly and will now feature two-leg matchups for the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. [34]

Participants

Permanent Canadian Championship clubs
TeamCityLeagueYears
Atlético Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario Canadian Premier League 2021–present
Cavalry FC Calgary, AlbertaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
Forge FC Hamilton, OntarioCanadian Premier League2019–present
HFX Wanderers Halifax, Nova ScotiaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
CF Montréal Montreal, Quebec Major League Soccer 2012–2019
2021–present
Pacific FC Langford, British ColumbiaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
Toronto FC Toronto, OntarioMajor League Soccer2008–present
Valour FC Winnipeg, ManitobaCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
Vancouver FC Langley, British ColumbiaCanadian Premier League2023–present
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Vancouver, British ColumbiaMajor League Soccer2011–2019
2021–present
York United FC Toronto, OntarioCanadian Premier League2019
2021–present
2024 qualifiers for the Canadian Championship
TeamCityLeagueYears
CS Saint-Laurent Montreal, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2024
Simcoe County Rovers FC Barrie, Ontario League1 Ontario 2024
TSS Rovers FC Burnaby, British Columbia League1 British Columbia 2023, 2024
Clubs that have previously participated

– Defunct club
– Defunct club replaced by phoenix club

TeamCityLeagueYears
A.S. Blainville Blainville, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2018, 2019, 2021
FC Edmonton Edmonton, Alberta North American Soccer League, Canadian Premier League 2011–2017,
2019,
2021–2022
Guelph United F.C. Guelph, Ontario League1 Ontario 2022
FC Laval Laval, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2023
Master's FA Toronto, Ontario League1 Ontario 2021
CS Mont-Royal Outremont Mount Royal, Quebec Ligue1 Québec 2022
Montreal Impact Montreal, Quebec USL First Division, USSF Division 2, North American Soccer League 2008–2011
Oakville Blue Devils Oakville, Ontario League1 Ontario 2018
Ottawa Fury FC Ottawa, Ontario North American Soccer League, USL Championship 2014–2019
Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, British Columbia USL First Division, USSF Division 2 2008–2010
Vaughan Azzurri Vaughan, Ontario League1 Ontario 2019, 2023
    Timeline
    Canadian Championship

    Results

    By year

    YearWinnersRunners-upTeamsFormat
    2008 Montreal Impact Toronto FC 3 Home and away
    round robin
    2009 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps
    2010 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps
    2011 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4Two-legged knock-out
    2012 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2013 Montreal Impact Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2014 Montreal Impact Toronto FC 5
    2015 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Montreal Impact
    2016 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2017 Toronto FC Montreal Impact
    2018 Toronto FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6
    2019 Montreal Impact Toronto FC 13
    2020 Toronto FC Forge FC 2 [lower-alpha 1] Single match
    2021 CF Montréal Toronto FC 13Single-leg knock-out
    2022 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto FC
    2023 Vancouver Whitecaps FC CF Montréal 14
    2024 TBDTBDMixed knock-out [lower-alpha 2]
    1. Originally scheduled as a 12-team, two-legged knockout tournament, the 2020 edition was reduced in scope and delayed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    2. Single-leg for the preliminary round and final; two-legs for the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

    By club

    RankClubWinnerRunner-upSeasons wonPartici­pations
    1 Toronto FC 85 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 15
    2 CF Montréal 53 2008, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021 14
    3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 37 2015, 2022, 2023 14
    4 Forge FC 014

    All-time table

    As of June 8, 2023
    RankTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
    1 Toronto FC 522813118144+3797
    2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 502116137155+1679
    3 CF Montréal 511813206062−267
    4 Ottawa Fury 2082102134−1326
    5 Cavalry FC 136431611+522
    6 FC Edmonton 2262142539−1420
    7 HFX Wanderers 115151818016
    8 York United FC 134451718−116
    9 Forge FC 103431111013
    10 Pacific FC 93241215−311
    11 A.S. Blainville 721446−27
    12 Atlético Ottawa 412176+15
    13 TSS FC Rovers 21013303
    14 Vaughan Azzurri 310235−23
    15 Valour FC 6105613−73
    16 Vancouver FC 100101−10
    17 Oakville Blue Devils 200213−20
    Guelph United F.C. 100102−20
    CS Mont-Royal Outremont 100102−20
    20 FC Laval 100103−30
    21 Master's FA 100105−50

    Awards

    George Gross Memorial Trophy

    The George Gross Memorial Trophy was created by the Canadian Soccer Association in 2008 to recognize each tournament's most valuable player. [35] The Trophy was named after the late George Gross, a former soccer administrator and a respected journalist.

    YearPlayerPositionNationalityTeam
    2008 Matt Jordan GoalkeeperFlag of the United States.svg United States Montreal Impact
    2009 Dwayne De Rosario MidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Toronto FC
    2010 Dwayne De RosarioMidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC
    2011 Joao Plata ForwardFlag of Ecuador.svg EcuadorToronto FC
    2012 Ryan Johnson ForwardFlag of Jamaica.svg JamaicaToronto FC
    2013 Justin Mapp MidfielderFlag of the United States.svg United States Montreal Impact
    2014 Justin MappMidfielderFlag of the United States.svg United StatesMontreal Impact
    2015 Russell Teibert MidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2016 Benoît Cheyrou MidfielderFlag of France.svg FranceToronto FC
    2017 Sebastian Giovinco ForwardFlag of Italy.svg ItalyToronto FC
    2018 Jonathan Osorio MidfielderFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC
    2019 Ignacio Piatti ForwardFlag of Argentina.svg ArgentinaMontreal Impact
    2020 Not awarded [lower-alpha 1]
    2021 Sebastian Breza GoalkeeperFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaCF Montréal
    2022 Ryan Gauld MidfielderFlag of Scotland.svg ScotlandVancouver Whitecaps FC
    2023 Julian Gressel DefenderFlag of the United States.svg United StatesVancouver Whitecaps FC
    1. Although the trophy wasn't awarded at the conclusion of the 2020 Canadian Championship, Canada Soccer named Forge FC's Tristan Borges the performer of the match of the final, the only match played in that year's tournament. [36]

    Best Young Canadian Player award

    The Best Young Canadian Player award was created by the Canadian Soccer Association in 2019 to recognize each tournament's best Canadian under-23 player. [37]

    YearPlayerPositionTeam
    2019 Zachary Brault-Guillard Defender Montreal Impact
    2020 Not awarded
    2021 Jacob Shaffelburg Forward Toronto FC
    2022 Ryan Raposo Forward Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    2023 Ali Ahmed DefenderVancouver Whitecaps FC

    Top Scorer of the Canadian Championship

    The Top Scorer of the Canadian Championship is the player who scores the most goals during the competition. In case two or more players are tied, the first tiebreaker is most assists and the second tiebreaker is fewest minutes played. [38]

    YearPlayerNationalityTeamTotal
    2008 Roberto Brown Flag of Panama.svg Panama Montreal Impact 2 goals (0 assists, 157 minutes)
    2009 Dwayne De Rosario Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Toronto FC 3 goals
    2010 Dwayne De RosarioFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC1 goal (1 assist)
    2011 Maicon Santos Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilToronto FC3 goals
    2012 Sebastien Le Toux Flag of France.svg France Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 goals (0 assists, 168 minutes)
    2013 Camilo Sanvezzo Flag of Brazil.svg BrazilVancouver Whitecaps FC3 goals
    2014 Jack McInerney Flag of the United States.svg United States Montreal Impact 3 goals
    2015 Tomi Ameobi Flag of England.svg England FC Edmonton 4 goals
    2016 Jordan Hamilton Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC2 goals (1 assist)
    2017 Sebastian Giovinco Flag of Italy.svg ItalyToronto FC3 goals
    2018 Jonathan Osorio Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto FC3 goals (1 assist)
    2019 Ignacio Piatti Flag of Argentina.svg ArgentinaMontreal Impact4 goals
    2020 Tristan Borges Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Forge FC 1 goal (0 assists, 67 minutes)
    2021 Austin Ricci Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Valour FC 3 goals
    2022 Sunusi Ibrahim Flag of Nigeria.svg NigeriaCF Montréal3 goals (0 assists, 62 minutes)
    2023 Sunusi Ibrahim Flag of Nigeria.svg NigeriaCF Montréal3 goals

    Competition records

    Appearances

    As of May 1, 2024
    RankPlayerClub(s)NationalityAppearances
    1 Russell Teibert Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada32
    2 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada29
    3 Ashtone Morgan Toronto FC, Forge FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada24
    4 Justin Morrow Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States20
    5 Doneil Henry Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada18
    Eddie Edward FC Edmonton, Ottawa FuryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    7 Michael Bradley Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States17
    Mark Delgado Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Kyle Bekker Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, Forge FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    10 Patrice Bernier Montreal ImpactFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada16
    Maxim Tissot Montreal Impact, Ottawa Fury, Atlético OttawaFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada

    Top goalscorers

    As of May 7, 2024[ citation needed ]
    RankPlayerClubNationalityGoals
    1 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada8
    2 Jozy Altidore Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States6
    Sebastian Giovinco Toronto FCFlag of Italy.svg Italy
    Sunusi Ibrahim CF Montreal Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
    Ignacio Piatti Montreal Impact Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
    6 Tomi Ameobi FC Edmonton Flag of England.svg England5
    Jordan Hamilton Toronto FC / Forge FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    8 Camilo Vancouver Whitecaps FC Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil4
    David Choinière Montreal Impact / Forge FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Daryl Fordyce FC EdmontonUlster Banner.svg Northern Ireland
    Jack McInerney Montreal ImpactFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Pedro Morales Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Chile.svg Chile
    Brian White Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of the United States.svg United States

    Bolded players are still active players with a Canadian team.

    Top goalscorers by season

    SeasonPlayerClubNationalityGoals
    2008 Roberto Brown Montreal Impact Flag of Panama.svg Panama2
    Rohan Ricketts Toronto FC Flag of England.svg England
    Eduardo Sebrango Vancouver Whitecaps Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba
    2009 Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada3
    2010 Chad Barrett Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States1
    Philippe Billy Montreal ImpactFlag of France.svg France
    Peter Byers Montreal ImpactFlag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg Antigua and Barbuda
    Dwayne De Rosario Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Marcus Haber Vancouver WhitecapsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Ty Harden Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Ansu Toure Vancouver WhitecapsFlag of Liberia.svg Liberia
    2011 Maicon Santos Toronto FCFlag of Brazil.svg Brazil3
    2012 Eric Hassli Vancouver Whitecaps FC Flag of France.svg France2
    Ryan Johnson Toronto FCFlag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica
    Reggie Lambe Toronto FCFlag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda
    Sébastien Le Toux Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of France.svg France
    2013 Camilo Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Brazil.svg Brazil3
    2014 Jack McInerney Montreal ImpactFlag of the United States.svg United States3
    2015 Tomi Ameobi FC Edmonton Flag of England.svg England4
    2016 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada2
    Jordan Hamilton Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
    Nicolás Mezquida Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay
    2017 Sebastian Giovinco Toronto FCFlag of Italy.svg Italy3
    2018 Jonathan Osorio Toronto FCFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada3
    Jozy Altidore Toronto FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    Kei Kamara Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of Sierra Leone.svg Sierra Leone
    2019 Ignacio Piatti Montreal ImpactFlag of Argentina.svg Argentina4
    2020 Tristan Borges Forge FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada1
    Alejandro Pozuelo Toronto FCFlag of Spain.svg Spain
    2021 Austin Ricci Valour FC Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada3
    2022 Myer Bevan Cavalry FC Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand3
    Sunusi Ibrahim CF MontréalFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
    Brian White Vancouver Whitecaps FCFlag of the United States.svg United States
    2023 Sunusi Ibrahim CF MontréalFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria3

    See also

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Soccer in Canada</span> Association football practiced in Canada

    In Canada, soccer is the most popular sport in terms of participation rate; according to FIFA's Big Count, almost 2.7 million people played in Canada in 2006. Professional soccer in Canada is played in the Canadian Premier League and Major League Soccer. Canada also has many semi-professional and amateur soccer leagues. Canada's men's and women's national soccer teams are ranked 33rd and 6th respectively in the FIFA World Rankings as of February 10, 2022.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Voyageurs Cup</span> National soccer trophy for Canada

    The Voyageurs Cup is the domestic trophy for professional soccer in Canada, awarded to the best men's and women's clubs in the country.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Soccer Association</span> Governing body of soccer in Canada

    The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body for soccer in Canada. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, the federation is a full member of FIFA and governs Canadian soccer at the international, professional, and amateur levels, including: the men's and women's national teams, Canadian Premier League, youth organizations, beach soccer, futsal, Paralympic and deaf national teams. The Canadian Soccer Association also administers and operates the Canadian Championship.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Johnson (soccer)</span> Canadian soccer player

    William David Johnson is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Central Florida Panthers in the National Premier Soccer League and the Central Florida Crusaders in the National Indoor Soccer League. A versatile midfielder, Johnson has represented Canada internationally.

    The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), which oversees the system and domestic cups but does not operate any of its component leagues. In addition, some Canadian teams compete in leagues that are based in the United States.

    The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 16th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 33rd with a national first-division league.

    The 2012 Major League Soccer season was the 17th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 100th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 34th with a national first-division league.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Teibert</span> Canadian soccer player

    Russell James Teibert is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played his entire career for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Porter</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1990)

    Kyle Neville Porter is a Canadian professional soccer player for Scrosoppi FC in League1 Ontario.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Canadian Championship</span> 2011 professional soccer tournament

    The 2011 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2011. As in previous tournaments, participating teams included the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. FC Edmonton participated in this year's competition for the first time. Toronto FC won the tournament, claiming the Voyageurs Cup and Canada's entry into the preliminary round of the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament has been held annually since 2008.

    The history of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a professional soccer team based in Vancouver, Canada, spans over four decades. The first team to use the "Whitecaps" name was the Vancouver Whitecaps of the now-defunct North American Soccer League, playing from 1974 to 1984. After two years while the core of the players were focused on preparations for the 1986 World Cup, a second version of the club was founded in 1986 as the Vancouver 86ers. This team bought back the Whitecaps name in 2000 and has operated continuously in various leagues since 1986. A Whitecaps FC team began play in Major League Soccer starting in 2011 making it the first time since 1984 that a "Whitecaps" team played in the top tier of soccer in the United States and Canada.

    The 2008 Vancouver Whitecaps season was the club's 23rd year of existence, as well as their 16th as a Division 2 club in the franchise model of US-based soccer leagues. With games against well supported MLS side Toronto FC in the Voyageurs Cup and local rival Seattle Sounders selling 22,000 season tickets for MLS in 2009, the Vancouver Whitecaps were marketed as one of the leading markets for a 2011 MLS expansion side. This included expanding the ownership to include Victoria, BC raised NBA star Steve Nash in July. The Division 1 MLS speculation along with the higher profile that came with public negotiations with Vancouver City Council and the Port of Metro Vancouver to develop the Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium gave a boost to media coverage and game attendances. The privately financed stadium, first proposed in 2006, appeared to be reaching its final government land use approvals in 2008.

    Major League Soccer teams have participated in the CONCACAF Champions Cup each season since 1997. MLS may send up to ten teams to the CONCACAF Champions Cup each season — up to six from the United States, up to one from Canada, and up to three through the Leagues Cup berths.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Laryea</span> Canadian soccer player

    Richmond Mamah Laryea is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a right-back or midfielder for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC and the Canada national team.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Canadian Championship</span> 2019 professional soccer tournament

    The 2019 Canadian Championship was the twelfth edition of the Canadian Championship, contested from May 15 to September 25, 2019. Montreal Impact won their fourth Canadian Championship title and earned a berth in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Canadian Championship</span> Soccer tournament season

    The 2020 Canadian Championship was the thirteenth edition of Canada's national soccer cup tournament, awarding the Voyageurs Cup. It was held as a final between one representative each from Major League Soccer and the Canadian Premier League. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a larger knockout tournament was to be held from June 16 to September 24, 2020, between twelve teams.

    The 2021 Canadian Championship was the fourteenth edition of the Canadian Championship, contested from August 15 to November 21, 2021. The winners of the tournament, CF Montréal, were awarded the Voyageurs Cup and earned a berth in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

    The 2022 Canadian Championship was the fifteenth edition of Canada's national soccer cup tournament, awarding the Voyageurs Cup. It took place from May 10 to July 26, 2022. The winners of the tournament, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, were awarded the Voyageurs Cup and earned a berth in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.

    The 2023 Canadian Championship was the sixteenth edition of the Canadian Championship, the premier men's domestic cup competition in Canadian soccer, and the 22nd competition staged to determine the winner of the Voyageurs Cup. It was a knockout tournament with all eleven professional men's soccer teams in Canada, from Major League Soccer and the Canadian Premier League, competing, along with the champions of the three semi-professional League1 Canada competitions. The tournament marked the first Voyageurs Cup campaign for FC Laval, TSS FC Rovers and Vancouver FC.

    The 2024 Canadian Championship is the seventeenth edition of the Canadian Championship, the premier men's domestic cup competition in Canadian soccer, and the 23rd competition staged to determine the winner of the Voyageurs Cup. It features all eleven professional men's soccer teams in Canada, from Major League Soccer and the Canadian Premier League, along with the champions of the three semi-professional League1 Canada competitions. This tournament marks the first Voyageurs Cup campaign for CS Saint-Laurent and Simcoe County Rovers FC. Victoria Highlanders FC had also qualified as the League1 British Columbia regular season winners but withdrew before the start of the tournament; they were replaced by TSS FC Rovers.

    References

    1. "Canadian teams set to do battle". Globe and Mail. Canada. March 27, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
    2. 1 2 "2012 Amway Canadian Championship" . Retrieved January 27, 2012.
    3. "OneSoccer" . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
    4. "Canadian Soccer League - Articles". September 3, 2007. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
    5. "Toronto Lynx move to PDL". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. October 10, 2006. Archived from the original on August 16, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
    6. 1 2 "Canada to create new club championship". Canadian Soccer Association. January 31, 2008. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
    7. "Qualifying Format Unveiled for 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League". www.concacaf.com. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
    8. "Canadian soccer on its way to qualifying for FIFA". Vancouver Sun. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
    9. "Canada's soccer teams unveil details for CONCACAF Champions League". Toronto FC Media Relations. March 26, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
    10. "2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship Schedule and Results". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2009.
    11. "Association confirms 2011 Nutrilite Canadian Championship schedule". canadasoccer.com. February 18, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
    12. Tierney, Mitchell (April 23, 2016). "Report: Provincial Champions to Play in Voyageurs Cup as Early as 2017". Archived from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
    13. "Report: Provincial Champions to Play in Voyageurs Cup as Early as 2018". March 9, 2017. Archived from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
    14. 1 2 "Battle of the North: Canadian Premier League squads learn paths to 2019 Canadian Championship". Canadian Premier League. January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
    15. "Canada Soccer announces 2020 Canadian Championship schedule". Canada Soccer. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
    16. "Canada Soccer announces format for 2020 Canadian Championship Final". Canada Soccer. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
    17. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (February 11, 2020). "'We've formally asked for a meeting': CPL hoping to get Atlético Ottawa into 2020 CanChamp". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
    18. Jacques, John (November 3, 2022). "League1 BC Announced As New Entrant In Canadian Championship". Northern Tribune.
    19. Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (April 20, 2023). "MATCH ANALYSIS: TSS Rovers upset Valour FC 3-1 in magical CanChamp night at Swangard Stadium". Canadian Premier League.
    20. "Association announces partners for new Nutrilite Canadian Champions League". CanadaSoccer.com. May 23, 2008. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
    21. "Voyageurs Cup Announced For A-League Teams". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
    22. "The name game". Canadian Soccer News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
    23. "A sports fan's worst nightmare". Maclean's Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
    24. Rollins, Duane (December 12, 2010). "Format of Canadian Championship may change". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
    25. "Fury FC to Face FC Edmonton in Amway Canadian Championship". Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
    26. 1 2 3 "Canada Soccer announces move to new timeframe for future Amway Canadian Championships" (Press release). Canadian Soccer Association. March 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
    27. "Schedule for 2015 Amway Canadian Championship set" (Press release). Canadian Soccer Association. February 4, 2015. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
    28. "Vancouver Whitecaps, DC United join Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy in 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
    29. "Canadian Championship". Canadian Soccer Association . Retrieved July 9, 2022.
    30. "About the Canadian Championship". Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
    31. "Oakville Blue Devils qualifies for Canadian Championship - Canada Soccer". www.canadasoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
    32. "AS Blainville qualifies for Canadian Championship - Canada Soccer". www.canadasoccer.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
    33. "Canada Soccer announces 2021 Canadian Championship format and schedule". Canada Soccer. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
    34. "Canada Soccer Announces Telus Canadian Championship Format". Canadian Soccer Association . February 22, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
    35. "George Gross Memorial Trophy". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
    36. @CanadaSoccerEN (June 5, 2022). "Tristan Borges with the Performance of the Match Powered by @GatoradeCanada" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    37. "Gressel and Ahmed win awards at 2023 Canadian Championship - Canada Soccer". Canada Soccer. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
    38. "Top Scorer". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.